Youth Yanks Abroad, '97-'00 YOBs: 2018/19 Thread

All @Clint Eastwood is arguing is that playing for a high level academy during a critical age of a players development up until the age of 18 and then leaving for Europe is better than not playing at a high level academy and then leaving for Europe the age of 18.

This seems like an idea that all would agree on.

 

Being the father of one of Ferri's inferior teammates, I think he did just fine. He spent majority of his time at Bradenton and when that was done, he trained in Norway with Molde, I believe. Otherwise he was in US team camps. His appearances at Solar were basically cameos.

My memory of McKennie was that FCD wanted him to go to Virginia and weren't ready to sign him. And it is interesting that McKennie disappeared from the academy team and didn't make a public appearance until he turned 18 in late August. Was that due to the pressure to sign with FCD or to attend Virginia. Either way, McKennie and his family felt it was best to disappear.

 

In general I would agree with that. However, in this case and with FCD, I think the best option was to stay away from them.

FCD to my knowledge doesn't let their current (youth)players go on trial to European clubs for training without their approval. Why would you want FCD to have a say in if you can be seen a top club in Europe, why give them that power? Training and playing in a few GA cup games is not a good tradeoff for them not letting you out on trial. ( by the way I don't fault FCD for this, they can't just let everyone go for free, but it makes it an easier decision for someone in Blaines situation to stay away from FCD)

FCD would probably be pushing him for a homegrown deal that would have been a poor decision and most likely stopped him from taking the deal in Germany.

Here's hoping the best for Blaine and we see him playing for a top club in a few years.

 

So, in the off chance we still discuss actual YNT players playing in actual games abroad, it should be noted that Christian Pulisic came off the bench and scored in the Champions League against Brugge and in his CL debut, Weston McKennie started and got an assist against Porto.

In the Championship, Antonee Robinson and Cameron Carter-Vickers started for Wigan (win) and Swansea (loss).

 

I was thinking about this last night as it relates to the McKennie/Ferri discussion a little bit.

How many MLS academy products have started group games in the Champions league? It can't be a big number...........................

And Weston McKennie wasn't a one-year FC Dallas academy player (like say Chris Richards and others). He was there for 7 years.

Andy Najar of DCU/Anderlecht? Maybe? Probably?
Anybody else?
Off the top of my head I can't think of anybody else.

 

UEFA Youth League results:

Benfica vs. Bayern: 3-0
CJ dos Santos was on the bench for Benfica
Chris Richards started for Bayern
Justin Butler entered for Bayern in the 80th minute.

Ajax vs AEK Athens: 6-0
Dest entered in the 66th minute and scored in the 67th for Ajax

 

We don't watch all these games, so I stress that we shouldn't use this as 100% proof, but I don't think it reflects well on the standing of these players at their clubs when they can't even start these games. Thats not to say any of them are bad players, but the 11 best players in these age groups don't make the first team, so if you aren't in those 11 best players, you probably aren't highly rated by your team. Usually you need to be in the top 5 to have a real first team chance.

Maybe the situation would be different if we are talking about a player who is in the lowest age classification for this competition, but some of these guys should leave their clubs at the end of the season.

 

I'm not sure it is always negative. But I'm not sure where UEFA UCL U-19 is in the priority of clubs. Let's take one of our guys as an example: Tim Weah

Weah did start a bunch of these last year but he wasn't even dressed yesterday. He has been transferred to PSG B. So, I guess PSG will not drop him back to play. So, not playing could be a sign that you are closer to the first team not just that you are not able to break into the U19 lineup.

It is possible the club values the domestic U19 competition more and sits their more important players with games coming up in a few days.

 

Other than Najar, I don't think anyone else has done it besides McKennie.

I saw something on twitter yesterday that said McKennie was like the 23rd American to play in the CL. I don't have that list in front of me but I imagine most of those were guys who did so before the USSDA came along or grew up abroad like Kenny Saief.

I think Najar and Pulisic are the only other USSDA alums to have played in the CL.

 

Ethan Horvath............................? According to the UEFA site he's played in the early rounds for both Molde and Brugge (5 games total). Real Colorado was in the DA when he played with them?

I'm sure there are a couple more that'll come to mind. These types of guys in perhaps smaller leagues that played in early qualifying rounds.

But the group stage is a different beast. If you're starting or playing in group stage games (like we did with two thread eligible players yesterday), then you're playing at an elite level. Having thread-eligible youngsters do that with some regularity will be an important step for our program.

At the start of the year I was hoping Keaton Parks would play in these types of games, but he really doesn't seem to have taken a "next step" in the depth chart at Benfica.

Also Tim Weah (who did spend time at the NYRB academy) was a possibility.....................

 

Yeah, I don't count the qualifying rounds. That's a much lower bar.

 

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Did what Carleton should have done.

 

U21 level...……

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Soto scored a brace.

He has 5 goals in 6 league matches. 7 goals in 7 matches in all competitions.

 

This guy is just a clinical finisher... US U20s need to qualify so I can watch this dude play

 

It seems to be easier to put a Spanish club in your IG profile than actually be successfully registered to play in Spain. What is his passport situation?

 

And hell, Sabbi has an Italian passport and still had registration issues there.

 

Weah scored a goal for the PSG reserve side. Thats two weeks in a row he's scored for them. He hasn't made the first team squad in over a month.

Wright was credited with scoring one goal for the Schalke reserve side. He had been out for over a month with a hamstring injury. I watched some of the game. He had two goals, but the nicer of the two was credited to a teammate who stole his goal. The ball was going in off his shot, and his teammate put it in on the line. If the teammate put it in, it shouldn't have counted. That player was offside. It doesn't matter much, but it was scored incorrectly. It was his goal.

Both players are way too good for these lower leagues, and need to get out in the winter. They aren't going to get a chance at their current clubs, and have to leave. I'd suggest a permanent transfer for both, although Weah might be able to get away with a loan. Wright definitely needs a permanent transfer.

 

I've started following this particular twitter feed for our young players in Germany. Collects all of the info in one place.

Haji Wright scores his 2nd U23 goal of the season this morning! https://t.co/Y2gwFfUS4x

— Bundimericans (@bundimericans) September 23, 2018

Chris Gloster (@glosterchris4) played 11’ for Hannover II yesterday in their 2-1 win. According to transfermarkt it says he played LW but take that with a grain of salt😅 https://t.co/TYnvokKKe9

— Bundimericans (@bundimericans) September 23, 2018

Jonathan Klinsmann started for Hertha’s U23s this morning against BFC Dynamo’s U23s. This is his 5th start for the U23s this year https://t.co/5pwEX1rDqJ

— Bundimericans (@bundimericans) September 23, 2018

Chris Richards (@eastmamba) played 90’ while Justin Butler played 45’ for Bayern’s U19s as they beat Nuremberg’s U19s 1-0 today! https://t.co/wmNUFom6pG

— Bundimericans (@bundimericans) September 23, 2018

 

In case people missed this, Luca de la Torre had a goal and an assist for Fulham in the League Cup (or whatever the hell they call it now). Supposedly played really well. Hopefully it leads to more playing time.

Great feeling scoring my first goal for @FulhamFC ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/X4s2nDJRHp

— Luca de la Torre (@delatorreluca) September 25, 2018

 

61. GOAAL! Sergino Dest schiet #AjaxO19 met een lage schuiver op 3-1! Klasse, mannen! #ajapsv

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) September 25, 2018

 

You can check the comment section of this tweet for highlights of the Bayern (Richards) versus Ajax (Dest) game in the Youth Champions League.

Rare chance to see Chris Richards (and Sergiño Dest) in action Monday in a fast, physical UEFA Youth League matchup between the Bayern and Ajax U19s. Ended 2-2. Bayern were the stronger side but incredibly wasteful, and conceded in the 2nd and 90th minutes.

— scuffed (@scuffedpod) October 3, 2018